Opening Prayer
04/22/2010
Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin
Lord God we bless You and thank You for Mother Earth.
Earth's beauty calls forth wonder in children
and offers daily sustenance to the elderly.
Earth is common ground for all human life and invites us to be respectful and grateful for her diverse gifts of land and sea.
Help us to learn from her seasons the wisdom of Your timing.
May the variety of her species and the potential of her resources teach us prudence and perseverance.
May her fruitfulness give witness to Your ever–faithful love;
and her tilt to the sun model our turn to You to face every need.
Earth is our home but no one's lasting city.
With all her laws of nature, Earth is stable yet ever changing, making all dependent upon You both now and forever.
Amen.